Latest Food and Nutrition Issues

Factors Affecting Eating Pattern of Urban Middle Class

(The article is based on personal experiences and observations)

Factors Affecting Eating Pattern

Family Composition and Person Who Has a Say
Food prepared by the choice of only one family member or cook/helper may not necessarily be suitable for all family members. Taste and nutritional requirements differ in a family where children, teenagers, pregnant women, nursing mothers, middle-aged people and elders are present. Many senior citizens eat less and with disinterest due to teeth problems, digestive and other health issues or poor taste buds. They usually prefer traditional food that they have been eating from a young age and food that is easily digestible, though many also try new food items. The younger generation is changing towards Western, Chinese, European, Thai, Mexican and other types of cuisine. Deciding the daily meal menu is a challenging task in many families.
Financial Status and Income
Financial status affects the choice and type of food consumed. With less income, only basic dishes and food items like chapati/paratha, idli, sambhar/dosa, poha, khichdi, rice with dal and some vegetables, some milk and milk products in moderation are taken. Bread is also popular. If more money is available, slightly expensive fruits and vegetables, more milk products like curds, paneer/cheese, eggs, meat, fish and other seafood items and chicken, if non-vegetarian, nuts, pastries, patties, samosas, pizza, burgers, cakes and other sweet and savoury items are also included.
Amenities, Availability and Prices
Easy availability and variety of both raw and cooked food items at nearby vegetable and fruit shops/vendors, grocery stores, eateries, dhabas, restaurants and hotels also affect eating patterns. Online eating and delivery platforms are an important factor in urban cities. Whatever is easily available and affordable is ordered.
Social Gatherings
Frequent participation in parties, kitty parties, outings to clubs and restaurants, and visits to relatives and friends affects the overall quality and consumption of food. Sometimes overeating and high intake of carbohydrates and fatty food occur. Consumption of large amounts of starters/snacks along with hard and soft drinks and soups provided in the beginning before the main meal is quite common nowadays, resulting in high salt intake.
Selection of Food and Dishes
Selection of food and dishes is also difficult for some due to the problems of plenty. Selecting from too many available varieties makes it difficult to make healthy choices. Market influence and aggressive advertisements on television, social media, newspapers, pamphlets and other mediums for different foods/dishes, spices and drinks have an impact on eating patterns. Distribution of free samples of new food for marketing develops tastes for new food items.
Emotional Stress and Mood
Avoiding or skipping food, if it is not of personal liking, is also common. Many people, when in a bad mood or depressed, either avoid eating or eat too much.
Meal Timings, Eating Place and Frequency of Meals
Overall consumption of food depends on the number of meals taken per day, the place of eating, such as at home, in school, office or outside, and whether meals are taken with family or separately. Eating times of many working people are impacted when they work night shifts. Some people do not get time to eat during working hours. Sometimes people living alone neglect their diet. A person's sleeping and waking time also affect a day's total eating. Meal timings of families where all eat together also change due to the choice of the head or dominating person of the family. Some working people and students feel hungry while studying or working. Eating while lying on sofas and beds is also becoming a habit among youngsters.
Health-Conscious Members in a Family
Health-conscious members in a family and someone who takes diet advice from dieticians and nutritionists may also influence the diet patterns of other members.
Addiction to Some Foods and Dishes
Many people eat the same type of items, particularly if bought from outside. In many cases, they are addicted to dishes prepared in a particular way using some special spices and herbs. Some people find food from a particular eating place more palatable and prefer that only.
Cooking Methods
Cooking methods used affect food's taste and its nutritive value. The common methods used are boiling, frying (shallow and deep), roasting, grilling, baking, steaming and sautéing. Use of ovens and microwaves has also increased as it is more convenient. Some people like food prepared in a particular way only.
Discomfort and Allergic Food
Many elders and even young children feel uncomfortable after eating some particular food, so they avoid it. Milk and milk products, a few pulses and cereals are some examples.
Water and Liquid Intake
Water or liquid intake by people before and during meals affects total food intake. Some people cannot eat food without soft or cold drinks.
Illness of a Family Member
Due to the illness of a member, sometimes cooking patterns and recipes are changed for the entire family for the sake of convenience. During illness, a patient's appetite is usually poor, so food intake is reduced.
Exchange of Dishes
On special occasions, giving and receiving special food from neighbours, friends, relatives and colleagues is quite common. In the process, people learn about different dishes from each other and develop tastes for food from other regions.
Faith in Ayurvedic Health System
Some people believe in the Ayurvedic health system and follow some principles, like avoiding combinations of certain foods and following specific eating timings.
Labelling and Description on Packed Food Items
On many packed food items, expiry and manufacturing dates, composition and the process of making recipes are illegible. Many people, particularly those with poor eyesight and older people, are not able to read them. Preparation becomes difficult.
Food Fads, Fallacies and Traditions
A temporary intense craze or fashion, like a new diet or a different idea about some food, and family traditions also have an impact on eating patterns.
Drinking Too Much Tea, Coffee and Hard Drinks
Drinking too much tea, coffee and hard drinks affects appetite and reduces food intake and its absorption.
Peer Pressure
Peer pressure and influence also affect eating patterns.
Bulk Cooking
Sometimes cooking is done for many days in advance for the sake of convenience. Food is refrigerated for many days. This may have an impact on the nutritive value of many food items. Some dishes also become tasteless and get spoiled if not stored at the right temperature and properly packed.
Observing Fasts and Eating or Avoiding Some Foods
In many communities, eating a particular type of food during fasts, festivals, religious days and at a particular time is also common. During some seasons and on certain days, a few foods are avoided.
Influence of Cookery Shows
Nowadays, many people watch cooking competitions and recipes posted on social media. They try to prepare them and also share them with other people.
Easy Availability of Cooking Know-How on Social Media
Easy availability of different recipes on social media also helps influence eating patterns. Videos posted by nutritionists, dieticians, doctors and health experts are watched by many.
Food Supplements and Nutritious Snacks
Consumption of nutrient-rich foods like chocolate bars, low-fat and high-protein paneer/cheese is becoming popular. Greek yogurt and other drinks are also popular among people doing gym activities and exercises. Nutritious supplements are added to milk, tea, coffee and other drinks. Healthy snacks made out of nuts and pulses are also quite popular.
Frequency of Medication Intake
Taking a number of medicines, as prescribed by the doctor, during a day also affects the timings and quantity of food consumed, as a gap may need to be maintained.
Storage of Ready-to-Eat Snacks
Easy availability of various snacks, chips, biscuits, cookies, namkeen and cakes in the kitchen affects eating patterns. Many people, when they feel bored or hungry, or are too happy or depressed, tend to eat handy snacks.

Challenges

It becomes a difficult task to plan meals and menus due to factors like liking and disliking by family members, available budget, time and facilities.
Consumption of in-between snacks, soft drinks, hard drinks, tea and coffee has increased, affecting appetite and proper absorption of nutrients.
Quality and hygiene of cooked food purchased from the market are not always certain.
Nutritional deficiencies and other health disorders are caused due to imbalanced meals, wrong trimmings, wrong food combinations and inadequate or excessive eating. Lifestyle diseases like high blood pressure, indigestion, acidity, heartburn and obesity are very common even among younger age groups.
Senior citizens living alone find it difficult to cook due to poor health, low energy levels and lack of confidence. Cooks/helpers are not easily available, and some cannot afford them due to economic reasons. A few do not want to keep help due to safety and security reasons. As a result, many people are not able to take balanced and nutritious meals.
As the taste buds of many senior citizens change due to ageing, they do not find food tasty and eat less.
Nowadays, some children and even youngsters eat at odd times, follow improper posture while eating, and eat while lying on sofas and beds. This affects their digestion and may also result in overconsumption of food.
Many people, mostly children, like to eat only junk food and drinks available in the market and spend a lot of money on them. People have developed tastes for refined cereals, carbohydrates, sugary and fried items, and food containing too much salt.

Suggestions

Proper meal planning with enough variety from all food groups and different regions may be done for days for the entire family to avoid last-minute confusion about what to cook.
As far as possible, efforts should be made to take main meals at fixed times.
Healthy traditional drinks like lassi, neembu pani (lemon water), aam panna, bel sharbat, rose water and satu drink should be propagated. Nutritious cereals like shree anna (grains like jowar, bajra and ragi) should find more place in the menu.
People should try to reduce consumption of refined sugar, fats, salt and too many carbohydrates. They should follow recommended health guidelines.
Healthy dishes that are easy to prepare and suitable for different age groups should be planned or modified, including for small children and senior citizens who have difficulty chewing and digesting. Sweet and savoury recipes prepared during festival seasons that are simple and easy to make with less sugar, salt and oil should be innovated.
Healthy ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat nutritious food items should be manufactured in greater quantities at reasonable rates. Simple and nutritious home-cooked-type food supplies should be available for everyone, including students, senior citizens and adults going out for work. More people should come forward in this business.
Children should be taught about the importance of eating healthy and eating all types of home-cooked food and green leafy vegetables from early childhood. Schools should emphasise more information on these aspects and how to prepare them. Senior family members can also train children at home.
Government dietary guidelines should be strictly followed in canteens in schools, offices and all eating joints where food is supplied.
More low-cost healthy recipes should be innovated.
Health and nutrition education on emerging and prevalent eating disorders should be provided by the concerned agencies through different modes, covering all aspects. Awareness about lifestyle changes for better health should be created.

Nirmal Tikku, Ex Deputy Director, SPNIWCD (Earlier NIPCCD), October '26

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------